Bring on the Veggies! Ian's First Sweet Potatoes

Our little man loves, loves, LOVES his sweet potatoes!

"Gimme more sweet potatoes, please!"

"Mmmm, so this is what real food tastes like.  Yum.  No more of that rice cereal stuff for me!" (I love how Ian puts his hand on my arm as I feed him.)

Ava had to get in on the action.

Five Months Old and a Bundle of Love

Ian is five whole months old today!  Sigh... where does the time go?

He is an absolute joy and (mostly) all smiles.  We are on a very solid routine these days of three naps and six meals.  He eats his cereal twice a day, although sweet potatoes will be introduced this week.  He's rolling over all the time and can sit unsupported for a few brief seconds.  His favorite toys are his play gym, his crab rattle, and a caterpillar toy that plays music and sings about numbers and colors.  He loves to watch "big-kid toys" in action, such as Ava's ball popper and Little People Carnival.  But most of all, Ian just loves interaction with us.  He loves the faces we make at him and the noises we say.  I've even started doing this thing called "Mommy Beat Box," where I make drum and cymbal noises while moving his arms and legs.  It's quite a riot and both of my kids love it (Ava even requests it on a daily basis!).  If that doesn't get Ian laughing, nothing will.

Bathtime is still a hit, but my new favorite time with him is right after his morning and post-nap bottles.  For both, Ava is still sleeping/napping, so it's just me and Ian.  Now that I no longer have the middle-of-the-night feeding and cuddle sessions, I really cherish this quiet time with my baby. I sit him up or lay him across my lap, and we coo and giggle together.  I talk to him and tell him about all of the things I'll teach him, and he responds with gurgles and squeals.  We'll play pat-a-cake, this little piggy or itsy bitsy spider, and those usually elicit some giggles. I love this time!  But don't get me wrong, bathtime is still a very close second.  Ian's reflux is still an issue, but the good news is that he's not in a lot of pain with it.  It's more of a spit-up issue than a pain/colic issue, which I feel is the lesser of two evils.

Overall, I am really enjoying this time with him.  He's such a wonderful little guy and I smile every time I think of him.  I was telling Bonnie a couple of weeks ago that I can't kiss his little feet anymore (my favorite baby part!) because I get a little carried away.  He's just that cute and cuddly.  I'm more in love with him everyday.  Enjoy the pictures!

"Mommy! Huuuuug!"

Oh, the things my children do to wrap me further around their little fingers.  Lately, Ava's tactic has been hugs.  A while ago, she asked me for a hug, and after I composed myself from gushing over my daughter's sweetness, I gave her the biggest bear hug I could without squishing her and said, "Mommy will never, ever, say no to a hug from you!"  Ever since I said that, Ava has taken my words to heart and requests a hug any time she feels sad, lonely, hurt, scared, mad, embarrassed, or sick.  She'll come running to me, tears streaming down her face, yelling, "Mommy! Huuuuuug!"  She turns the word "hug" into an eight-syllable word.  Then she'll burrow deep into my legs until I squat down and wrap her in my arms.  Those moments are among my favorites when it comes to motherhood.

But recently, she's learned the fine art of manipulation because she'll ask for a hug when I am playing with Ian, feeding Ian or cooking dinner.  Basically, if I am doing anything other than paying attention to her.  I can just read her mind: "But mommy, you said you would never, ever, say no to a hug from me!"  I pity her future husband.

Ava's First Bike

Stefan surprised us by taking yesterday off from work, after being in Florida for five days.  We had a fun and relaxing day, and in the afternoon, we got Ava her very first bike.  We live in a cul de sac, and every afternoon, our neighbors' kids all get together and ride bikes, scooters and motorized cars in the nearly vacant cul de sac.  Some of the younger ones just toddle around with toys, etc.  All of the kids are within a couple of years of each other in age, so everyone gets along great and has a lot of fun together.  Ava has been pushing her doll in her stroller while the older kids ride around, but yesterday, she got her first bike.  Stefan put it together as quickly as he could because Ava was so excited to try it out.  We took her outside during Ian's evening nap, and Stefan taught her how to ride it.  We quickly learned that Ava's legs are just a hair too short to push the pedals the whole way around, but this summer, she'll be able to reach them just fine and will no doubt be zooming around our cul de sac with finesse.  In the meantime, we'll keep trying until she gets it.  We really don't mind pushing her - it's fun to see her face light up, not to mention great exercise!

Daddy helping Ava onto her new bike

"I'm officially a big girl!"

Daddy and Annie coaching Ava on pedaling.

"Look at me go!"

"I am pretty hot on this bike, aren't I?"

My Mother's Day

This morning, I got both of my babies out of bed with kisses and a "thank you for making me a mommy."  Our day was filled with our normal schedule, and I thought about how much I love my job.  For a few minutes today, I rolled around on the floor with both Ava and Ian, tickling them, wrestling with them, zerberting their bellies and tickling their toes.  I relished in their giggles and squeals, laughing right along with them, and then I realized there is nothing better in the world than hearing your child laugh.

A year ago today, I found out I was pregnant with Ian.  I woke up early that morning and took a home pregnancy test, although I already knew the answer.  Ava lay sound asleep in her crib - just 17 months old - still dreaming away.  Stefan was in Florida for The Players Golf Tournament, and so it was just me and the pregnancy test.  When I took the test with Ava, I covered the stick and waited the prescribed three minutes for the test to develop.  I wanted to be surprised.  But with Ian's test, I sat there and watched it develop, knowing full well I was going to see that beautiful second pink line.  When it showed positive, I cupped my hands over my face and whispered "God Almighty!" about 40 times.  Ian wasn't planned, but I was beyond elated nonetheless.  On Mother's Day 2008, I became a mother of two.  And today, 2009, I played the day away with them.  I am overwhelmed by all of the goodness in my life.

I remember a time several years ago, when I was in college, that I actually thought about not having children.  I didn't think I would make a good mother.  But now that I have children, I don't know how I ever existed before them.  They are so much a part of me that I can't bear to imagine life without them.  They are my soul - walking around outside of my body - with precious faces, curious hands and eyes so deep you could get lost in them.  I'm so thankful God chose me as their mother.  They are the ultimate gift.  They make it Mother's Day 365 days a year.  I love you so very much, Ava & Ian!

Ian's Big Weekend

Last weekend was a big one for Ian.  On Saturday, we brought up Ava's old jumperoo-exersaucer combo for Ian to try.  He loves it!  And on Sunday, he had his first cereal feeding and did extremely well.  He's had cereal in his bottles for the past month, but now he's eating it with a spoon and chows down.  I'll keep the post short and just let the pictures do the talking.  Enjoy!

  

Content and Entertained...

First Bite!

  

I love eating my cereal like a big boy, mommy!